Takashimizu Karakuchi Junmai

Takashimizu Karakuchi Junmai (高清水 辛口純米), made of rice grown in Akita and milled to 60%, is brewed in pursuit of rice flavour and sharpness. When warmed, umami and depth emerge, and when chilled, the sharpness increases and dryness comes to the fore: a dry junmai with a rich taste and spiciness.

Akita Shurui Seizō in Akita-shi was founded in 1944 when twelve breweries were merged into one, as were most other small and medium-sized companies in the final period of the Second World War to overcome the war-time shortage of ingredients. In 1950, the main brewery resumed operations. Nowadays, Akita Shurui Seizoh has two production facilities in Akita and a rice polishing facility. The brewery has two labels, "Takashimizu" (高清水) for the Japanese market and "Shimizu-no-mai" for the U.S. market.

"Takashimizu" was chosen from 5,037 submissions and means "high spring water". In Akita City, "Takashimizu Hill" is famous for its spring water. According to legend, the sacred spring started gushing in the middle of the 7th​ century; the area is also known as the location of Akita Castle, one of the biggest citadels in the extreme north of Japan.

Awards:

Akita Shurui Seizoh Brewery has been awarded Gold medals at the Annual Japan New Sake Awards for fifteen years (as of 2014). Goshono Brewery received Gold medals for eleven years. The brewery was awarded Gold medals at the Tohoku Sake Awards for nineteen consecutive years. During these nineteen years, it won the Top Honour Award five times.